Engaging or disengaging device for automatic railway-carriage couplings.



No. 695,595. Patented Mvar. I8, |902. C. BANVITS.

ENGAGING 0R DISENGAG'ING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATID BMLWAY CARRIAGE' EUUPLINGS.

(Application led July 28, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

m. 695,595. Patented Man-ls, 1902."

c. BANovlTs.

ENGAGING 0R DISENGAGINGDEVICE FUR AUTOMATIC RAILWAY CARRIAGE GPLIGS.

l (Application Bled July 28, 1900.) (No Model.) A 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

m: Nunjs PETERS co., PHoToLxYNo., wAsHlNu-rou. n. c.

NTTED STATES f PATENT FFICE.

CAJETN BANOVITS, OF BUDAPEST, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

ENGAGING 0R yDISENGAGING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC RAILWAY-CARRIAGE COUPLINGS.

ispnermeAmoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,595, dated March 1s, 1902.

Application Hleil July 28, 1900.

To all whom it may concern: f Y

Be it known that I, GAJETNBANovlTs, a` subject of the Emperor ofAustria-I-Iungary, residing at 85 Andrssy-t, VI, Budapest, Austria-Hungary, have invented certain newT and useful Improvements in Engaging or Disengaging Devices for Automatic Railway- Carriage Couplings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to improvements in engaging and disengaging devices'for automatic railway-carriage couplings,'by means of which the coupler is-protected -by its locking device, and each of theforms of automatic railway-coupling hereinafter described and contained inthe coupling-head H or H is provided with an engaging and'disengaging device connected by suitable means with a coupling knuckle or tooth, Ythe construction of which may vary. This engagingV and dis- .engaging device has three positions-viz'. the

first (middle) position, in which the couplinghead is ready for coupling; the second position, in which the knuckle is held engaged; ythe third position, in' which the coupling is held disengaged and in which rengaging of the coupling is impossible.

In the form of construction of couplinghead and knuckle represented in Figures l to 4 a double-action safety-coupling may be ernployed, which is connected with-the above'- mentioned engaging and disengaging device in such a manner thatin the second position the engaging and disengaging device operates the safety-coupling, while inthe other two positions it puts the latter out of operation.

This automatic railway-coupling is hung loosely to the underframe of railway-cars and provided with springs in such a manner as to yield both under pressure and traction, and

vis further arranged in such a manner that the rods connecting the two coupling-heads can be suitably lengthened or shortened.

Figs. l and '4 are horizontal sections of the coupling-head. Fig. 2 is avertical section, and Fig. 3 partially a vertical section thereof. Figs. 5 and 5b are details of the coupling-box.

The engaging and disengaging device for the coupling-headcon'sists in the following parts: The plate A, with the opening Ay in it, which iatter in Figs. l to 6 and on the right side of Figs. 7 and 8 is closed and on 'coupling-knuckle E E. y right side of Figs. 5 and 6 is connected by Serial No. 25,193. (No model.)

key Bwith the bit b Aturning in the opening Ay. The key B is held in-the coupling-head H I-I'andcan beturned either from both sides, as in Figs. l to 3 and 5 to 8, or from above, as in Fig. 4. In the latter case the key B is in a vertical .position and the plate A horizontal. In Figs. l to 3 the key B is in ahorizontal and the plate A in a vertical position.

Theplate A on the right side of Figs. 1 and 2 is connected, by -means of bars a' at, provided with springs,with the' 'coupling-knuckle K, which is inthe formv of an elbow-lever. The plate A on the left-hand side ofFigs. 1 to 3 is connected with the ,coupling-knuckle K K by means of the bars a', which are held in position by the weight Q. In all, these figures, as well as in all those hereinafter described, d d indicate a guide fixed tothe coupling-head.'

In Fig. 5 (left side) the plate a is iixed to one of the arms of the double-armed lever ct" al", which moves vertically around the axle VI; the other arm of the lever being connected by means of the bolt 6 with the catch F of the The plate A on the means ofthe yielding bars a and the bolt 7 with the double-armed lever C C', which moves on the vertical axle V and the arm C of which forms the catch of the couplingknuckle EE.

The plate A on the rightside of Figs. 7 and 8 is connected by means of the yielding rods a a with the catch ctx, while on the left side of the same iigures the plate A is connected directly and rigidly with the catch F in such a manner as to form one part With'it.

The action of the engaging and disengaging device is as follows: On the right of Figs. l and 2 the key B, and consequently the keybit l), are in such a position that by compression of the spiral springs the plate A and the bars d, can be moved to the left until the right side of the opening Ay comes into contact t-he'left side of Figs.7 and 8 is open, thek with B and l). With the key B in this posi- IOO gether into the coupling-head II and to draw both the plate A and the bar a from the left with it. When the two opposite couplingteeth K and K have passed each other, the coupling-tooth K is forced by the action of the spiral spring around the rod a out of the coupling-head, and on the coupling being effected the coupling-tooth K, the rods a, and the plate A assume the position shown on the right side of Figs. l and 2. If the key B is then turned ninety degrees to the right, the key-bit l) will lie horizontally in the lower part of the opening AY, and thus fix the coupling-tooth in the position in which it effects the coupling. If, however, the key is not turned to the right, but turned ninety degrees to the left, the key-bit h will push the plateA and the rods a to the left,and will thereby draw the coupling-tooth K into the coupling-head and fix it there. The coupling is thus disengaged and the coupling-tooth fixed in such a position that recoupling isimpossible. Vhen recoupling is to be made possible, the key B must be brought into the position shown in Figs. l and 2 on the right. The key B is turned by means of double cranks M M, provided at each side of the car and either rigidly fixed to the key or by means of a universal joint.

To fix the key B in its three positions, the device shown in Figs. 5, 5b may be employed. In Figs. 5, 5b one of the adjusting-boxes mi, fixed to the key B, instead of the couplingboxes m, is fiattened on three sides, one of which flat sides is at the bottom in each of the positions of the key. In Fig. 5, in which the bearing of the key B widens slightly toward the top, the surface ot' the box tir/,Which is at the bottom, rests upon a fiat lug on" of the coupling-head H. In Fig. 5b this surface rests upon a spring 1', fixed to the flat lug m of the coupling-head H. In Fig. 5 the key is held in position by its own weight, in Fig. 5b by the spring r.

In Figs. l to 3 (left side) and Figs. 4 to 8, the latter of which represent variations in the construction of the engaging and disengaging device or in the combination of' same with other parts, the engaging and disengaging device is identical with that hereinbefore described, as far as principle and operation are concerned, and the following will serve for further elucidation:

In Figs. l and 2 (left side) the key B, with the key-bit b, is shown in the position in which the coupling-knuckle K K is fixed when engaged. The dotted line in Fig. 2 indicated that position of the key-bit b in which it is possible to couple uncoupled cars, with the key B and the key-bit b in the position shown in Fig. 3, the key B and the key-bit b have been turned into the coupling-head and fixed there. The coupling-knuckle K K consists in this case also of an elbow-lever moving on the axle I, and the coupling-knuckle K revolving on the axle II transmits the pressure partly to the coupling-head and partly to the axle I, thereby relieving the latter to a certain extent. It may further be mentioned that instead of spiral springs around the rods a an elbow-lever a", revolving on the axle 'IV and weighted with the weight Q, is provided.

In Fig. 4 the coupler is a tooth G, moving vertically backward and forward across the longitudinal axis ot the coupling and connected by means of the elbow-lever L, revolving on the axle III with the rods a, which are provided with springs and with the plate A, the latter being in a horizontal and the key B in a vertical position. The key B can be turned from the platform or from the root of the car. With the key-bit b in the position shown in Fig. i it is possible to couple the cars. It b is turned ninety degrees to the left, the key will fix the parts after coupling has been effected. It' the key is turned ninety degrees in the other direction, the coupling will be disengaged and the couplingtooth fixed in a position in which recoupling cannot take place.

In Figs. 5 to 48 the engaging and disengaging device is shown in combination with American coupling-knuckles, which do not catch until the moment of coupling, but before coupling hang loosely out of the coupling-head. These operate in the following manner: The coupling-knuckles E E form elbow-levers, which on the coupling being disengagedthat is to say, on the catches hereinafter mentioned being disengaged-swing out of the coupling-head and can be held in the position they then assume by means of' a spring. Vith the coupling in the position shown in Figs. 5 to 8, however, the knuckles swing into the coupling-head and the arm E of the knuckle E E hooks into the catch, which is indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 on the right by (l, on the left by F, and in Figs. 7 and 8 on the right by axv and on the left by F. The catches are disengaged and the coupling locked by means off the engaging and disengaging device in the following manner: In Fig. 5 (at the left) the double-armed lever a" a" can be made to revolve on its axle VI by turning the key B,and thereby the catch Fis lifted or fixed in the position shown in Fig. 5. When the key-bit b is in the position indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, (on the left,) the arm E' of the knuckle can in passing into the coupling-head lift up the catch F, which is provided for the purpose with a slanting surface. When after the arm E has passed-that is to say, when the coupling has been effected the catch F hassunk in consequence of its own weight into the position shown in Fig. (i, (on the left,)-the coupling can be locked by turning the key B in such a manner that the key-bit h will assume the position indicated in Fig. 6, (on the left,) by thedotted line, in consequence of which both a" and F-that is, the whole coupling-are locked. If, however, B is turned in such a manner that the key-bit Z1 is turned downward,the lever ct" am is made to revolve in such a manner that the right arm (according to the drawings) will move upward and lift the caf ch F,whcreby thc IOO IIO

coupling is disengaged. Vith the key B and thekey-bit b in the position indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 (on the right) t-he arm Ev of the knuckle EEin passinginto the coupling-head can push back the catch c on its axle 5. When the arm E has passed the catch() and the latter has snapped intothe position 'shown in Figs. 5y

and 6, by reasonof the springs around the rods a the coupling'is effectedl and can be locked by moving the key-bit b into the position indicated by the dotted line in Fig. G, (on

ythe right.) If, however, the key B is turned.

'so that the key-bit h is on thepleft side, the

rods (t will be pushed forward by means ofl the springs and C O will be moved into a position in-which the catch C will no longer be opposite the arm E. In this case the coupling'is disengaged. In Figs. 7 and 8, (on the right,) ax can be pushed back by/turning the arm E into the coupling-head when the keybit b is in the position indicated vin Fig. 8 by the dottedv line. When E has passed the vcatch ctx and dx has snapped back, the coupkey-bit h is in a horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. f-.If the coupling edected after the arm E'has passed the catch F is to be locked, the key B must be turned tothe left, so that the key-bit will pointdownward, as indicated by the dotted line on the left of Fig. 6. If, on the other hand, the coupling is to be disengaged, the key B must be turned to the right until the key-bit b after lifting the plate A, and therefore also the catch F', is pointing upward. It will be seen that in all these variations the key B or the key-bit bhas three positions-viz. the middle position, in which coupling can be effected; a side position, in which the coupling after being effected is locked, and a second side position at an angle of one hundred and ninety degrees to the second position, in which the coupling is disengaged. In all these forms of construction if the key B remains in the third position, in which the coupling was disengaged, no recoupling can take place. The latter does not become possible until the key-bit b has been made to assume the middleL position. f

' In order to provide in this automatic coupling system for the event `of the main coupling being rendered useless by some circumstance or other, the engaging and disengaging device can be provided with a safety-V coupling, as shown on one side of the main automatic coupling in Figs. 1, la, 3, 4, and 4a. Of course it is desirable when safety-couplings are used to provide one also on the other side of the main coupling corresponding to the one in Figs. l, l, 3, 4, and 4, It is therefore advisable for an automatic coupling of this kind either to have symmetrical safetycouplings on both sides of the main coupling or to have none at all. The nature of the safety-coupling is as follows: The hoek P is fixed to the pointed end HX of the couplinghead I-I, either rigidly orso as to move around the axle 5, and hocks completely into a corresponding hole S in the Opposite couplinghead when twol coupling-heads have been pushed against each other and the automatic main coupling has thereby been operated.y As shown in Fig. l, (on the right,) the hoek P does not in this position form a coupling, as.'v

it can be drawn out of the hole S in the same way that it was pushed in. The hook P does not become a coupling until the plate R (see right side of Figs. l and 3 and Fig. la) has by means of the crank n and the rod N beenl Bin its other two positions the hock P ref mains ineffective.

The arm RY hooks around the key B and serves as guides for the plate R, which is integral with the latter.

The right sides of Fig. 4 and Fig. 4a represent another form of construction of vthe safety-coupling, in which a segment D, turning on the axle lO, is provided between the hock P and the plate R. In the'position shown iuFig. 4 D and Pare ineffective, but in the ICO position shown in Fig. 4a (into which positiony D isbrought by the same vturn of the key B which locks the main coupling and has been described hereinbefore) I) and the surfaceH7l of the coupling-head (see Figs. 4 and 4-) form a closed chamber, in which P can be moved upward and downward, but from which it cannot bewithdrawn as long as the key B or the'key-bit b of the latter keeps the main coupling locked.v In the other two positions IIS ofthe key B the heck P remainsineffective also in this case. If au automatic couplinghead provided with a safety-coupling is tobe coupled with a similar coupling-head not provided with safety-coupling, the latter. coupling-head must atleast have avhole S in its.

surface IIy for the hook P of the safety-coupling to pass into. Aj similar safety-coupling can be employed with the forms of construc:

tion shown in Figs. 5 and 8.

Of course the form of the various parts may s differ fromthat shownY in the drawings as long asi theyfultil'the purpose required. It is equally`plain that the forms of construction having hooks adapted to engage automatically when the draw-bars meet, the combination of a sliding bar connected to and moved by the rotation ofthe coupling-hook, means for normally and yieldingly retaining said bar in the position to keep the hooks coupled when engaged, and means operated by hand for positively locking said sliding bar in the coupled or uncoupled position of the hooks and for allowing the said bar and hook free movement when the locking mechanism is in the central position between the positive locking positions substantially as described.

2. In a coupling of the automatic class having movable hooks to engage each other when the draw-bar ends meet, the combination of a sliding bar in engagement with and adapted to be moved by the rotation of the said hook on its pivot and a key operated by hand for positively locking the said bar to retain the hook in its coupled or uncoupled position and for releasing the parts when the key is in its intermediate position substantially as described.

3. In an automatic coupling havngselfen gaging hooks, the combination of a sliding bar in engagement with and moved by the rotation of the coupling-hook and a key in engagement Awith said bar for positively locking the said bar in either of its end positions, and for allowing it free movement When the said key is in its intermediate position, and means for normally holding the said bar in the coupled position when the key is in the position to release the same in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.

et. In an automatic coupling having self-engaging hooks as specified, the combination of a sliding bar and means for moving the same by the rotation of the coupling-hook on its pivot to eiect the coupling or release the same, an oriceformed in the said bar, a key haveither of its end positions and to release it when the bit is in its central position substantially as described. t

5. In an automatic coupling having self-engaging hooks, the combination of a sliding bar and means for moving it When the hook is rotated on its pivot, a cam-orifice formed in the said bar, a key operated by hand and having a bit to lie in said orifice and adapted to lock the said bar when turned, in either of its end positions and release the same when in its central position and means for normally retaining the said bar and couplinghook in the engaged position but yicldingly, when the said bar is released by the key-bit in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.

6. In an automatic con pling having self-engaging hooks, the combination oit" locking mechanism positively operable from the outside of the coupling and adapted to lock the said coupling-hooks in the coupled or uncoupled position or allow the same free play when the locking mechanism is in its intermediate position,an auxiliary conplingadapted to engage simultaneously with the main coupling and means controlled by the said locking mechanism to engage positively the said auxiliary coupling when the main coupling is positively locked substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two Witnesses.

CAJETN BANOVITS.

WVitnesses:

KALMARF URUL, RAYMOND ToUNv. 

